Central Park

Prospect Park

Astoria Park

More

Central Park

Follow an afternoon of wandering in Central Park with a drink in the back garden at this cozy neighborhood wine bar and restaurant. Or snag a spot on its sidewalk patio for a better view of the neighborhood passersby. The drink options include a full bar and eight bottled beers, but Tolani is a wine bar: Opt for one of the globally diverse reds, whites or bubblies available by the glass, such as the Greek Assyrtiko ’09 ($9).

Now that you’ve got a buzz, up the ante with a cocktail or three at this Australian beach-themed party spot. You can take a break from the UV rays without missing the sunshine in the rowdy, glass-roofed dining room, and indulge in the anytime happy hour—just drop $20 to drink as many beers and bottom-shelf mixed drinks as you’d like for two full hours. For something more adventurous, try the Calf’s unique mixed creations, such as the mango-lime Moo-jito (made with muddled fresh fruit, $8) or one of the signature Moo Juices like the fruity Sunburnt ($7), a combo of passion-fruit-infused tequila and fresh strawberries served in a baby bottle.

To wind down from the afternoon revelry, continue along West 79th Street straight to the Hudson River. There you’ll find this sprawling bar-eatery, where you can sip a cocktail while taking in the sunset over New Jersey. Choose a seat on the open-air patio for the best view of the marina, then share a 54-ounce pitcher of frozen margarita ($30) or a cold beer like Blue Moon ($22).

Prospect Park

This converted auto garage boasts the charm (and the square footage) of a basement rec room, complete with Skee-Ball, sports on a projector TV and vintage family photos on the walls. The sprawling front beer garden is perfect for knocking back a Franklin Lemonade (vodka, Campari, simple syrup, fresh lime, seltzer; $9) and a hallway in back leads to the six-month-old Dutch Boy Burger, where you can grab postpark treats including bourbon-spiked milk shakes ($6) and stout floats ($7) made with Blue Marble Ice Cream.

This corner bar may not have Franklin Park’s spaciousness, but it does have 16 craft brews on tap, knowledgeable bartenders who are happy to offer a recommendation or a sample of the suds, and some of the most entertaining bathroom graffiti around (look at the ceiling and you’ll be advised to “pay attention”). Grab a bright, hoppy Captain Lawrence Rye Ale ($6) and head out back to the multicolored picnic tables where you can rub elbows with an eclectic mix of locals (and their dogs).

Beyond the unmarked, white-tiled facade of this cocktail den you’ll find a sultry space and artfully mixed renditions of classic drinks (and why not, with several Sasha Petraske–trained mixologists behind the bar). Sip on a Monk Buck (cognac, fresh lime, ginger syrup and Yellow Chartreuse; $11) or a Revolver (bourbon, coffee liqueur and orange bitters; $14) while catching the last of the afternoon rays on the sizable back deck.

Astoria Park

After taking in Astoria Park’s incredible views of Manhattan, get ready to savor something just as good. Exit the park on its southeastern edge and mosey over to Hell Gate Social’s back garden, where you can relax with an ice-cold Red Stripe ($5) or a summery cocktail such as the Blueberry Fusion ($8), a blend of rosemary-infused blueberry vodka and limoncello. Something that’ll help you relax even more: Drinks are two-for-one from 7 to 9pm daily.

Club 21 Bar & Lounge

For a change of scenery, migrate three blocks to this Czech beer garden. Snag a seat at one of the patio’s umbrella-covered wooden picnic tables and ask for the $15 bucket of five domestic beers (available daily 4–9pm), or stick to Czech beers such as Krusovice Dark for more authentic imbibing. Stay grounded with a kielbasa ($8) from the outdoor grill (opening late March/early April), which the barkeeps diligently fire up daily during warm weather.

Walk off that growing beer belly with a 17-block stroll down 30th Avenue to MexiQ (or keep the paunch and hop on the Q18 bus). Tex-Mex barbecue and 48 taps await you. Grab a seat at one of the sidewalk tables and then order any draft you like in a 64-ounce growler for the table (yours to keep, $18–$55), or opt for the ever-changing $3 daily half-liter draft special. Tequila drinkers should pop in during weekend brunch, when bottomless margaritas (and Bloody Marias, mimosas and Mexican brews) are just $7 on top of an entrée price.